Monday, October 3, 2016

Rudy Project Sterling Helmet Review

*
Disclaimer: I received the Rudy Project Sterling Helmet to review as
part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more
about becoming a BibRave Pro
(Ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review,
find, and write race reviews

I bought a Louis Garneau X-Lite helmet
from performance a few years back for around $99 and it’s incredibly light
weight with tons of smaller vent holes.This helmet has been a joy to ride with for years, and I wasn’t sure
what Rudy
Project would offer to outperform my
LG helmet.I have heard great things
about Rudy
Project though and was excited to put
it to the test.

Rudy Project sent me the Sterling helmet
to test out, which was facilitated through being a BibRave
Pro.Let’s start off with the first thing I noticed out of the box.Rudy Project
has bright Flou colors (Pink/Blue, Orange/Black, Black/Red, Yellow/Black, and
Green/Blue).They also have 7 other
color options.I got the Green with Blue
accents and it looks amazing.It also
has a visor that you can use (or choose not to) that simply clicks on.The visor is extremely sturdy and I’ve had no
issues with attaching my helmet mirror to the visor.

Some of the blue accents do have a
purpose besides just looking cool.There
is a sunglass dock where you can store your sunglasses while you are not
wearing them.This really comes in handy
when you stop for a break or lunch.

The Sterling has
18 vents and weighs in at 10.64 ounces (301.50 grams).While my LG helmet was 33% lighter than the Sterling,
the Sterling
actually felt lighter.The LG had 37
smaller vents, but I felt the 18 larger vents on the Sterling and
the way they were designed helped to bring more air flow through the helmet and
keep me cooler.

The Sterling
uses Rudy
Project's RSR7 retention system.It
makes adjustments on-the-fly really easy and only requires one hand for
adjustment. You can also adjust the head ring to three different settings
for a more customized fit.I felt that the
fit is a huge advantage with the Sterling as
it really just made the helmet feel like it was part of my head.I truly forgot that I had the helmet on
during my rides, which is the biggest compliment I could give.

You have two options for padding inside
the helmet (both are included).You can
use the padding with the bug net, which will keep bugs and bees out of your
helmet, or you can use the padding without the bug net.I did notice a little more heat buildup with
the netting, but it wasn’t bad at all.The
Sterling
also comes with a soft bag to store your helmet.

The chin buckle is ergonomically
designed with Rudy Project's Fastex Buckle
Closure System.It is a simple and quick
snap-lock buckle.There is also a pad
that goes between the buckle and your skin for added comfort.A great addition in my opinion.

The Sterling is
really easy to swap out padding, make adjustments to the straps, take everything
off for cleaning, and putting it all back together.Check out this rather long video if you want
to see them take apart and reassemble the Sterling.

The real reason you wear a helmet while
cycling is to keep your head safe.Some
people think that they ride safe enough or they are that good that they don’t
need a helmet, but some of the best riders I know have crashed trying to avoid
a rock or animal running across the road.Helmets are there to protect you against unexpected situations like
drivers who aren’t paying attention as well.Rudy Project makes top of the line helmets
and have multiple safety certifications (CE 89 686 EEC, EN 1078, CPSC 12.03, AS
NZS 2063).

What it really comes down to for me is
that the Sterling
is an extremely safe helmet that is so comfortable that you don’t even know it’s
there.While I did like the LG helmet,
it doesn’t compare to the Sterling in features,
fit, or style.The one area where the LG
helmet came out ahead was the price.When you think about it through, price should not be the main reason for
why you choose a specific helmet, especially if you are talking about your safety.Let’s face it, you only have one brain and it
can’t be replaced if it gets damaged.

Right now, you can subscribe to get
special promotions from Rudy Project and
get 25% off the Sterling.Click here to sign up and get the
discount.That will drop the price from
$274.99 to around $206.25.When you buy
at the Rudy
Project website you get free 2-way shipping, a
low price guarantee, and a 90-day return policy.You have a full 90 days to return your unused
helmet for a full refund.

Pros:

Looks awesome with the bright Flou
colors.

Light weight at 10.64 ounces (301.50 grams)

18 well designed vent holes

Comes with bug screen pads, free pads,
storage bag, and visor

The best fit of any helmet that I have
tested.

Cons:

More pricey than some competitors at
$274.99 (but there is a 25% off coupon)

In the world of cycling, there are tons
of products to choose from.There are
several companies who claim to have the best helmets.While I have not tested them all, I can attest
to the fact that the Rudy ProjectSterling
is one amazing road cycling helmet.From
the fit to the style, you really can’t go wrong with this helmet.I have yet to read a bad review of it.Give it a try and let me know what you
think.

You can check out some of my fellow BibRave
Pro ambassadors' reviews at the links below.